Airbus unveils its superjumbo, European leaders hail lead over US

AFP ^

[Alouette]

The only use I can see for these flying cattle cars is to haul hajjis to Mecca.

[JesseJane]

I'm impressed!! How are they doing with *inside toilets* in Europe now? Maybe they'll just hold it and go in the plane.

Plane too big. Need many people to fill every flight to make it affordable. Looks like big giant bomb, waiting to fly into big building. Big Plane, big tank, big boom! I think this is a "boom-doggle".

That's me thoughts and I'm stickin' to'em.

[Modernman]

Maybe it was the wrong decision of Boeing to set on the smaller planes... we will find out in a few years.

Both companies are taking a gamble. I tend to think Boeing has the right approach, at least in terms of the US Airline industry, but we'll see.

[Yardstick]

So does this mean socialism is now officially defunct? Here we have a doctrinaire socialist attaching "social justice" platitudes to a new product rollout by a megacorporation. I don't this is what the Left had in mind back in 1917.

[Happy2BMe]

"One rule of economics hasn't changed, however. That is if you can't find private financing for a project it probably isn't commercially viable. I am anxious to see the profits from the airbus vs. the profits of Boeing has to offer in 2010."

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Posted #36 by Reaganesque:

[1Old Pro]

Smaller and fuel effecient seems to be the direction profitable airlines are going - this is ridiculous.

[Michael81Dus]

Actually, Airbus says it will make profits when it reachs the 250-order-line. Up to now, 149 planes are ordered, and they expect many more to come. I predict it will be a success. Why are you so pi$$ed off by this new plane? I always thought progress is a good thing. I mean, Europeans also fly Boeing and wish NASA success, just like Americans fly Airbus and wish ESA luck. Can´t we just all get along?

[Daus]

I think we will be OK... :)

[A. Pole]

It is one terrible shame, but the US aircraft industry is heading down the toilet just like the shipbuilding, textile, steel making, auto manufacturing, and electronics industries.

We do not need all these buggy whip industries. Do not worry, soon we will be all nanotechnologists and brain surgeons. Like in Argentina.

New service based, environment friendly economical activity in City of Rosario.

[dfwgator]

I'm still waiting for this:

[MineralMan]

"Smaller and fuel effecient seems to be the direction profitable airlines are going - this is ridiculous.

"

Not necessarily. On some routes, this plane, or one like it, might make sense. I'm thinking JFK to London or LAX to Tokyo. Busy, full flights, all the time.

It's not going to work from LAX to ORD, though.

[PittsburghAfterDark]

Several things I don't understand about this plane.

1. I thought the aviation trend was going more to regional jets and smaller "full service" jets. Hence the rise of the Canadian and Brazillian jet industries and Boeing building planes like the 717, 777, 7E7 etc.

2. If this thing is going to be used in 10, mostly Asian, markets I'm not worried about it. I can't imagine many routes in the world requiring this kind of passenger demand.

3. 250? I'm willing to bet you that half or more of that goes to the international cargo market. Want to combat that? C-17 for the civillian market.

4. As was mentioned, what kind of airport improvements need to be made across the board as this thing would be a ground resource PIG.

The general tone here I believe is right on, despite the gripes. I don't see the reason to crow about this plane. 14 billion euros, 35 years, no market driven demand. Did you see a British Air logo on there? I didn't.

[Happy2BMe]

"Smaller and fuel effecient seems to be the direction profitable airlines are going - this is ridiculous."

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I noticed neither Russia or China had a hand in this. But do the Euros know something about future fuel (abundant) fuel availability that we don't?

[Dead Dog]

That LP, is the Future.

Figure the last time any of us flew across the US. The time we spent traveling to the airport, checking in, screening, waiting on mechanical delays (now effecting 500-850 per flight), layover, connecting flights, and luggage claim. I'd guess about 10-12 hours in my experience.

An Eclipse or other Micro-jet could have taken you across the country....and for about the corporate rate of a business class ticket (or much less)...and if far greater safety. Vsl saves lives.

This is more of a threat to Boeing than an overfed A340.

Call an hour in advance, fly to the nearest 3000 foot GA strip in the neighborhood

[Daus]

I thought the aviation trend was going more to regional jets and smaller "full service" jets.

There are two realities in the Airline industry today. The only way to be profitable is to be cheap, efficient, and direct domestically or to do high volume (hub) international long haul.

I think it's only a matter of time before people tire of the second option, and want more direct international flights. That is Boeing's bet.

[Aquinasfan]

I don't believe in a socialized economy or socialized industry, but subsidizing the R&D and even the production of a replacement for the 747 just makes good sense.

Why? For defense reasons? I don't think Boeing has anything to offer the military.

I can see an economic argument for subsidizing Boeing in order to prevent Airbus gaining a monopoly. But even if Boeing goes under, eventually someone will get in the market, even if it's another state-supported corporation.

And if Europeans want to tax themselves so we can fly their planes, that's fine with me.

[aspiring.hillbilly]

This is no great leap in airliner technology, its merely a bloated scaling up of the original Boeing 707 designed in the 1950's It it pales in significance to the 707 which converted the airlines from props to jets. Speeds haven't increased dramatically, fuel consumption remains a big issue with oil prices high. Reminds me of the huge ford suv that has been taken of the market for being too dam big, i.e. wrong plane at the wrong time, a ridiculous example of more is less.

Still awaiting the next major technological advance in commercial avaition, this isn't it!

[chiefqc]

Did they paint a "Bullseye" on the aircraft?

[insider_uk]

They make those wings just down the road from you and just up the road from me.

I take it, we're not that far apart then?